CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: HERE COMES THE HEARTLESS MAN

After Anna Thornton finished her call, the reporters didn’t disperse. They were all waiting to see whether the rumored father of her child would actually appear. Clearly, until she delivered the promised big news, they weren’t going to let her leave easily.

Fortunately, those few reporters who had sneaked into the hospital were promptly cleared out.

Twenty minutes later, an exorbitantly priced business car stopped at the hospital entrance.

Anna Thornton glanced in that direction, causing everyone around her to also look toward the luxury car.

The passenger door opened, and a young man in a gray suit stepped out.

He looked decent enough, but his figure was somewhat thin, giving the impression that his presence wasn’t strong enough.

The reporters present hadn’t identified him as the son of any notable family, but they started frantically photographing him anyway. That ’young master’ adjusted his tie with a slightly refined but reserved manner, then proceeded to the driver’s side of the car.

Ethan bent down and opened the car door, revealing a pair of long legs clad in well-ironed suit pants, from which a powerful aura radiated outward, compelling everyone to hold their breath in anticipation.

As Conrad Sterling appeared at the hospital entrance, he perfectly fulfilled the expectations of the reporters present for the biggest headline.

Oh my, it wasn’t the foreign director or luxury brand president everyone had been speculating about. Anna Thornton’s child’s biological father was actually Conrad Sterling?

This news, whether in the entertainment industry or business circle, would cause a seismic effect—it’s explosive!

This trip to the hospital wasn’t in vain; the insider’s revelation is extremely valuable. Seems like today’s news will be quite profitable...

But the reporters couldn’t rejoice for long; with a single look from Conrad Sterling, the bodyguards following him immediately stepped forward to block the cameras and control all the media’s equipment.

The man then seemed to cast a casual glance at Anna Thornton surrounded by the crowd, and walked proudly toward the hospital.

"Miss Thornton." Ethan pushed through the reporters to rescue Anna Thornton and reassured her, "Rest assured, no photos from today’s hospital incident will appear in newspapers, magazines, or online. We’ll keep this under wraps."

"I know, your President Sterling certainly wouldn’t want the news to proclaim him as the father, lest it interferes with his flirting with women."

Anna Thornton smiled at Ethan, confidently leaving him to handle the situation, and also headed toward the hospital.

She quickly caught up with Conrad Sterling and overheard him reprimanding the head of Crestlight Hospital: "What’s the use of the numerous funds allocated to you every year? You couldn’t even stop a few reporters."

The hospital director, a middle-aged man who appeared a decade older than Conrad Sterling, couldn’t even lift his head in front of him. Sweat broke out repeatedly at his temples and he was too busy explaining that the reporters had disguised themselves as patients to sneak in. They initially didn’t notice, but upon receiving instructions from President Sterling, they had already expelled those people.

Truthfully, the hospital mainly focused on treating patients, and the funds were usually directed towards research. Security wasn’t their priority. Who would’ve thought such a large group of reporters would infiltrate and cause trouble?

The hospital indeed felt wronged, but with President Sterling being the key sponsor, they could only endure his reprimands.

After the director explained, he went to press the elevator button, Conrad Sterling went in first, and the others followed, instinctively lining up at the back.

Anna Thornton also entered the same elevator with them, noticing how everyone was holding their breath, wishing they could blend into the elevator walls like chameleons.

The man beside her, well... his face was a permanent facade of glacial plateaus; he was literally a walking refrigerator.

"President Sterling, do you realize your face is quite intimidating when it’s expressionless?"

Anna Thornton broke the silence, causing everyone else in the elevator to gasp.

Upon hearing this, Conrad Sterling turned his icy face aside.

"And today’s incident clearly shows someone leaked information to the reporters, causing the disruption. From my perspective, the hospital reacted rapidly during the emergency. Especially commendable is their confidentiality."

Whether it was Marilyn Ford or the reporters digging for info, no one disclosed Pop’s condition or room location, something Anna Thornton was genuinely grateful for.

However, in this elevator, no one dared to accept her gratitude.

Wherever Anna Thornton looked, people avoided her gaze.

President Sterling’s anger was already intimidating enough. If the elevator had windows, everyone would probably risk danger to jump out rather than be stuck here as Miss Thornton added fuel to the fire.

Fortunately, the elevator arrived at its destination.

The ’ding’ broke the awkward tension, and the director, observing Conrad Sterling’s expression, stepped out first to lead the way: "President Sterling, once we discovered reporters had infiltrated the hospital, we transferred all VIP patients to the top floor rooms. During the brief chaos, they were unaffected."

Upon hearing no one was affected, Anna Thornton breathed a sigh of relief.

"Miss Thornton, your child is over here, room 2601."

"Thank you, Director."

Anna Thornton eagerly ran to room 2601, pushed open the door, and sure enough, saw Mary and Pop inside.

"Anna, how are the reporters outside now?" Mary, though safe inside the room, was restless knowing Anna Thornton had been besieged by reporters outside.

"Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of." Anna Thornton reassured her.

Pop seemed quite excited, treating it as a game, jumping around on the bed and saying to Anna Thornton, "Mommy, hide... meow-meow!"

"Yes, Aunt Mary just played hide-and-seek with you, Pop. Was it fun?"

"Fun..." Pop’s smile stretched to its fullest.

But when the little guy looked outside the room, he suddenly seemed frightened, his little mouth gradually closing.

Anna Thornton turned to look and sure enough, it was Conrad Sterling coming over with that intimidating ice-cold visage.

"How is it?" The man asked this without context.

No subject, no object; who knew whom he was asking?

So, no one replied, leaving him awkwardly on the spot.

Conrad Sterling’s gaze swept around the room and finally landed on Mary.

"You’re asking... asking me?" Mary pointed at herself, feeling slightly unnerved under President Sterling’s gaze, "As a manager who’s seen many big scenes, I wouldn’t easily be intimidated by a few reporters. Mainly, I’m worried about our little Pop, so young and sick, unable to even have a peaceful stay."

"President Sterling, there’s something I’m not sure whether to say or not."

Conrad Sterling: "Don’t say it."

Mary: "..."

Seriously?

Mary was just about to seize this opportunity to question him about how he could be so callous as a father.

She had been holding in a lot she wanted to say, and had just worked up the courage to begin.

But Conrad Sterling wasn’t giving her a chance to speak, turning his focus to Anna Thornton: "Step outside for a moment."